Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
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Sec. 1. RCW 51.36.070 and 2001 c 152 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Whenever the director or the self-insurer deems it necessary in order to resolve any medical issue, a worker shall submit to examination by a physician or physicians selected by the director, with the rendition of a report to the person ordering the examination. The department or self-insurer shall provide the physician performing an examination with all relevant medical records from the worker's claim file. The director, in his or her discretion, may charge the cost of such examination or examinations to the self-insurer or to the medical aid fund as the case may be. The cost of said examination shall include payment to the worker of reasonable expenses connected therewith.
(2) The self-insured employer shall ensure that all relevant medical records of the injured worker scheduled for an independent medical exam are provided as electronic medical records to the independent medical exam physician or physicians, and, if electronic medical records are not possible, paper records must be delivered to the independent medical exam physician or physicians at least ten business days prior to the scheduled exam. If the independent medical exam is scheduled to occur before ten business days or if a medical record only becomes available to the employer during the ten business days, then the paper records must be delivered to the independent medical exam physician as soon as possible before the exam occurs.
EFFECT: Strikes requirements for the development of policies and physician training by the Collaborative for the Advancement of Telemedicine (Collaborative) relating to telemedicine for independent medical examinations (IMEs). Directs the Collaborative to conduct a study, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Industries, of the feasibility of telemedicine for IMEs and submit a report to the Legislature by December 1, 2018.